Mike Gill
Mike is a Portfolio Manager at Cornerstone Advisory, a Boutique Wealth Management firm headquartered in the Baltimore Area. In this role, he is responsible for initiating and managing client relationships.
Prior to joining Cornerstone Advisory, Mike was a Business Development Analyst with Bessemer Trust.
He currently serves on the Board of Maryland Family Network, as well as the Clemson University Club of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Mike earned an M.B.A. from the Robert H. Smith School at the University of Maryland, and a B.A. in Political Science from Clemson University.
Andrea Pelletier
Ms. Pelletier is a Senior Vice President for Sandy Spring Bank, supporting business leaders and owners to optimize their banking experience, focusing on financing needs and strategy implementation. For over 25 years, she has specialized in Business and Commercial Banking as a Business Development Officer, Relationship Manager, and Commercial Loan Officer. Prior to her current role, Andrea has a range of experience working with financial institutions of various sizes, from Fortune 100 companies to community banks.
In addition to her role as Treasurer for the Maryland Clean Energy Center’s Board of Directors, Andrea serves on the Advisory Board for Women in Finance and Banking with the Maryland Bankers Association, and formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Bank of America Mentor Program. She is also a member of the Business Women’s Network and the Howard County Chamber of Commerce Government Contracting Membership Committee.
Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of Maryland. She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her husband and three sweet dogs. She loves spending time with her family, exploring new places, especially beach locations!
Ruth Ann Norton
Ruth Ann Norton is President & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to advancing racial and health equity and opportunity through healthy housing. A national expert and advocate on green and healthy homes, she directs GHHI’s groundbreaking work across the United States where 65 cities, counties and states are using housing as a platform for improved health and social outcomes. Through the implementation of the GHHI comprehensive housing intervention model and its best practices Toolbox that she helped develop, cities are improving the ability of children to arrive in the classroom healthy and ready to learn and to stay in school through reduced asthma related absences.
The architect of the State of Maryland’s 99% reduction in childhood lead poisoning, Ms. Norton has developed over 45 pieces of successful healthy housing legislation that focus on reducing health disparities. Through its current feasibility and development work with healthcare partners and jurisdictions nationally, she heads a GHHI technical assistance team that is creating sustainable models for Medicaid reimbursement for preventive asthma and household injury services.
Ms. Norton serves as a member of the: EPA Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee, National Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (NLAPH), National Council of State Housing Agencies’ National Advisory Group, Ohio Asthma Council, and Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission, and was previously a federally appointed liaison to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. A founding member of the NEWHAB Advisory Board, she provides a leading voice to articulate the significant health and social benefits of weatherization investments through her advisory role with Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) and has authored research publications on the non-energy benefits of energy efficiency.
Ms. Norton is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leader, a Weinberg Foundation Fellow, a WE ACT Environmental and Social Justice awardee, and received the Tony Woods Award for Excellence from the Building Performance Industry in 2016 for her efforts to integrate energy efficiency upgrades with healthy homes interventions on a national scale. Under her leadership, GHHI has been awarded the HUD Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes and the EPA’s National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management for its innovative programs.
Brittney R. Powell, Esq.
Brittney Powell is an Attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Fox Rothschild LLP, where she advises clients navigating complex international trade, corporate, and environmental matters. She is an ardent advocate and promoter of sustainability and the adoption of clean energy and technologies.
Brittney also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Operation International Gift of Knowledge, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which provides access to education to children in rural Uganda. She also maintains active memberships in the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment and various bar associations.
Brittney was raised in Hampton, Virginia, and resides with her husband in Riverdale, Maryland. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Virginia, a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond. She also completed an executive-level program to earn a Master of Science in Natural Resources with a concentration in global sustainability.
Salvo Vitale
With a strong background of over 15 years of legal experience in the areas of corporate governance, business law and extraordinary transactions, Salvo has worked in the fields of international commercial law and renewable energy. Salvo is responsible for the organization of the company in terms of general strategy, commercial development, operational structure and financial results. In addition to the above, he oversees all contracts, business commitments, formal legal arrangements and agreements for the portfolio of projects in the US and Europe. Salvo joined the Toto Group in 2011 and previously practiced law in Rome, Italy at Bonelli Erede law firm. Salvo attended Guido Carli International University (LUISS) in Rome, Italy, where he earned his Master Degree in Law and PhD in Commercial Law.
Dr. Samuel I. Williams
Samuel Isaiah Williams was born in Washington, D.C. He was selected by the Chief Justice of the United States to serve as a Supreme Court Page, graduating from the Capitol Page High School, located in the Library of Congress. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Master of Business and Public Administration (Finance), and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration.
Samuel worked in policy and legislative affairs, appointed as a budget/policy official in the White House Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). He reviewed legislative proposals, agency policies, programs and budgets; developed issue papers and testimony for the Director of OMB and senior White House officials; and made policy recommendations to the President of the United States.
He served as Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at the Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, advising and providing counsel on public policy issues affecting consumers, the public and private sectors to the Assistant Secretary and Deputy, also coordinating policies, budgets and plans with OMB and Congressional authorization and appropriation committees.
Samuel also occupied business development, marketing, and strategic planning positions in the Operations and International departments at Sprint Communications. As Regional Manager of Government Affairs, he interacted with state Governors and legislators, analyzing bills and testifying before the Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington legislatures, and addressing issues with state regulatory agencies.
In addition, he worked in government affairs for the Association of Public Television Stations and TCI Cable Communications; Network Strategies/ Booz-Allen and Hamilton, Inc. in telecommunications restoration in the event of natural and manmade disasters; the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, McGraw Edison Company, and Department of the Navy in energy and electric power, and the California Public Utilities Commission in energy conservation.
Samuel also worked in education computer technology with Internet-based firms, interacting with university officials and high school superintendents, also serving as guest lecturer at colleges and universities on public policy issues. He was an Adjunct Professor at Montgomery College for five years providing instruction on the organization and function of government institutions, business management, and public administration.
He was recipient of the Walden University, Laureate International Universities, School of Public Policy and Administration 2015 Dissertation Award, Engaging Citizens in Democratic Governance and the Decision-Making Process with Congressional Committees. He also had a Letter to the Editor on the politics of public policy published by the Washington Post newspaper. Further, Samuel served in the U.S. Army at the rank of Captain, Battalion Operations Officer, in the Republic of Vietnam, awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Paul G. Pinsky
Paul Pinsky was appointed by Governor Moore to be the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration and he took office on January 18, 2023.
Prior to his appointment as director, he was elected to the Maryland state senate seven times. As a senator, he chaired the Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. He has also served on the Maryland Commision on Climate Change since its inception.
Pinsky has been a long-time champion in the fight to address climate change and clean up the Chesapeake Bay. He is the principal author of dozens of environmental laws that have helped shape most major state environmental policies in Maryland over the last two decades.
As senator, he sponsored the landmark Climate Solutions Now legislation, passed in 2022, which requires Maryland to slash emissions 60% by 2031 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. He was also the lead sponsor of: the watershed 2006 Healthy Air Act which included mandating Maryland’s membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI); legislation codifying the Climate Commission; and the 2009 and 2016 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Acts. He also co-sponsored the Clean Energy Jobs Act to require Maryland to obtain at least 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Paul Pinsky served on the Commission on Innovation & Excellence in Education (the Kirwan Commission) and was a major architect of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future which aims to transform Maryland’s education system.
He is also a longtime advocate for social, economic and environmental justice.
Director Pinsky worked in the education field for over 40 years, teaching high school history, advocating for teachers and their working conditions and consulting and developing policy focused on improving teacher quality.
Dr. Eric D. Wachsman
William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research
Distinguished University Professor - University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Eric D Wachsman, Director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute, is the William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research and a Distinguished University Professor with appointments in both the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from Stanford University, and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.
Dr. Wachsman is President of The Electrochemical Society (ECS) and Editor-in-Chief of Ionics. He is a Fellow of both ECS and the American Ceramic Society; elected member of the World Academy of Ceramics; the recipient of the 2017 Carl Wagner Award from ECS; the 2014 Sir William Grove Award from the International Association for Hydrogen Energy; the 2014 Pfeil Award from The Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining; the Outstanding Invention of 2013 award from the University of Maryland Office of Technology Licensing; the 2012 Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition Award; and the 2012 HTM Outstanding Achievement Award from ECS.
His research is focused on solid ion-conducting materials and electrocatalysts, and includes the development of solid-state batteries, solid oxide fuel cells, ion-transport membrane reactors, and solid-state gas sensors, using advanced ion conducting materials. He has more than 270 publications and 35 patents/patent applications on ionic and electronic transport in materials, and their catalytic properties, and device performance, and to date three companies have been founded based on these technologies.